Electric sign flasher



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 P. V. M CASH ELECTRIC SIGN FL SHER Filed April 4, 1925 llAlllllJ Fllllllllllll lllll July 28, 1925.

P. v. M cAsH ELECTRIC SIGN FLASHER July 28, 1925. 7

Filed April 4, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Illll-ll lllllln |m lm |l.|| l II. III.

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July 28, 1925.

1,547,886 P. V. M CASH ELECTRIC SIGN FLASHER Filed April 4, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 dash pot or retarding mechanis Patented July 28, 1925.

1,547,886 PATENT OFFICE.

PER-RY V. McCASH, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOB T INTERNATIONAL FINANCE COMPANY, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, A CORPORATION OF WASH- HIGTON.

ELECTRIC SIGN FLASHER.

Application filed April 4, 1923. Serial No. 629,905.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that PERRY V. MoOAsH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Sign Flashers, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in electrical sign flashers, of that type involving automatic makeand break mecha nism, to periodically control the energization and extinguishing of the lights of the sign.

Constructions of this type have been heretofore proposed, particularly in connect-ion with co-pend-ing applications filed by me, but in such constructions, the actual make and break device is directly operated by an electromagnet, and therefore the make or break of the current is gradual andcomparatively slow.

The present invention is designed to utilize the electromagnet as the power element and to so design the make and break mechanism controlled thereby that such make and break will be sharp andinstantaneous as compared with previous constructions.

The invention is illustrated in the acco1n-- panying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the sign flasher.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a bottom edge view of the same.

, Fig. 4 is a detail perspective of the upper b contact.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective of one of the lower contacts.

Fig. 6 is a section of the dash pot.

Fig. 7 is a diagram of the circuits.

The'sign flasher here shown, comprises an insulated support or' base 1, to which near one end is rigidly secured a bracket 2. A hollow plunger 3 is removably secured to this bracket 2 and cooperates with a cylindrical member 4 to provide a conventional Brackets 5 are secured to the base by screws 6 above and to one side of the bracket 2, these brackets 5 extending outwardly.

from the base and carrying adjustable metallic contacts 7, mounted in the brackets in any conventional manner. Above the brackets 5, blocks 8 are secured to the base, as by screws 9 taking into said blocks from the rear face of the base. The forward faces of these blocks are recessed at right angles to the base, and are bored on lines parallel with the base and passing through the walls of the recess. Contact levers 13 have rearward extensions to seat in the recesses of the blocks and openings in said extensions to receive a dowel pin 12 fitting the bore 11, whereby the levers 13 are supported on the blocks for limited pivotal movement. These levers extend outwardly from the base and are provided on their lower forward faces with contact buttons 14, adapted when the levers are in lowered positions to engage the contacts 7.

An electromagnet 21 is supported by upper and lower arms 2O. extending outwardly from the base, the metallic core of the electromagnet being thus-centrally disposed between the cooperating pairs of contacts 7 and 14. the electromagnet, this armature being connected by depending spaced projections 18 with the cylinder 4 of the dash pot, and being thus guided in movement by the dash pot. The armature has lateral extensions on which are arranged insulating sleeves 17, these sleeves normally underlying projections from the forward ends of the levers 13, so that in the upward movement of the armature under the energization of the electrolnagnet, the levers are operated to disengage the contacts 7 and 14.

A lever 23 is pivotally supported at 24 etween ears rising from the upper arms this lever being provided on its upper surface with a spring strip 25 secured at its forward end 26 to the lever and provided at its rear end with a contact button 27,

adapted in the operative position of the lever to electrically engage a contact point 28 carried by a screw 29 adjustable in a bracket 30 secured to the base 1. The lever 23 is operated through the medium of a rod 20, which passes longitudinally through the core of the electromagnet and is insulated therefrom. The lower end of this rod asses loosely through the armature 16 and 1s terminally headed at 19. The position ofthe head 19 between the extensions 18 of the armature and between the armature and cylinder 4, permitting a limited movement of the armature and cylinder in either direction without engaging the head, and therefore without affecting the lever 23. The u P pe'r end of the rod 20 is threaded through a lever in operation.

pin 22 mounted for free rotation in the for- .ward end of the lever 23, the rod being thus adjustable with. respect to the lever and permitted independent movement necessary in the relative movements of the rod and Contact plates 37 and 40 are arranged on one side of the electromagnet and corresponding contact plates 33 and 43 on the opposite side of the electromagnet.

The circuiting system of the sign flasher is as follows: A source of.energy, as a battery 31, is connected by a conductor 32 with the contact plate 33, and the latter connected to the screw 29. The lever 23 or more particularly the spring 25 is in circuit with the electromagnet by conductor 42, and the electromagnet is further in circuit through conductor 42 with the block 43. 'The sign lamps 38, or any desired illuminating means which it is proposed to control, are

' connected in parallel circuit by conductors 34 with the contact plates 37 and 40 respectively. A conductor 34 leads from the contact plate 37 to the contact plate or bracket 5 on one side, that is, to the contact button 7, and a conductor leads from the corresponding and cooperating contact button 14, through the bracket 8 to the contact block 33, the bracket 8 and lever 13 being joined by a conductor to insure continuity of current. A conductor 45 leads from the block 40 to the remaining bracket 5, that is, contact button 7, the corresponding contact button 14 being in circuit'through a conductor, 44 with the remaining contact block 43, the lever 13 of this contact assembly 14 having wire circuit with its supporting bracket 8 to avoid current interruption.

With the parts constructed and arranged as described, and the armature 16 in lowered position, it will be apparent that the lamps 38 are energized and that the electromagnet 21 is also energized. i The. armature 16 therefore is attracted and begins to rise, the movement being retarded by the dash. pot so that the movement is regular. The initial movementof the armature however will not affect the contacts, as the armature is free of the levers 13 and also free of the rod 20. In the final movement of the armature, however, the head 19 will be engaged by the cylinder 4' and the projections 15 of the levers 13 will be engaged by the insulating sleeve 17 of the armature. This will result in a quick break, or separation of the contacts 7 and 14 and corresponding separation of the contacts 27, 28, and the lamps 38 are de-energized. The electromagnet is also deenergized and'the armature starts to move downward of' its own weight. In this downward movement, the head 19 of the rod 20 is not engaged by the armature proper until substantially at the end of the movement, and the contacts 7 and 14 are not permitted to engage until at substantially the same time. At this period, the armature draws upon the rod 20 to restore cooperation of the contacts 27, 28, and the levers 13 are lowered to a point to permit contacts 7 and 14 to engage. The lamps 38 are again energized as is also the electromagnet, and the previously described operation to cut out the lights follows.

Thus the flasher will automatically cut in and cut out the illuminating means in an automatic manner, and the making and breaking of the circuit will be sharp and instantaneous to insure a more efl'ective and economical result. j

Claims:

1. In a sign flasher, contacts for controlling the energizing circuits, and an electromagnet in said circuits, an armature responsive to the energization of the electromagnet,

a dash pot element carried by the armature,

a rod controlling certain of said contacts, said rod being operated in one direction by the dash pot element and in the opposite direction by the armature.

2. In a sign flasher, contacts for controlling the energizing circuits, and an electromagnet in said circuits, an armature responsive to the energization of the electromag net, a dash pot element carried by the armature, a rod controlling certain of said contacts, said rod being engaged and operated in one direction by the dash pot element after a predetermined movement of the armature, and operated in the opposite direction by the armature.

3. In a sign flasher, contacts for controlling energizing circuits, an electromagnet in said circuits, an armature operated by the. electromagnet, a dash pot elementconnected with the armature, a rod controlling certain of said contacts, said rod extending through the armature and beingheaded beyond the same, the head of the rod lying in the path of movement of the'dash pot element in the movement of the armature under energize-- tion of the electromagnet.

4. In a sign flasher, contacts for controlling energizing circuits, an electromagnet in said circuits, an armature operated by the electromagnet, a dash pot element connected with the armature,.-a rod controlling certain of said contacts, said rod extending through the armature and being headed beyond the same, the head of the rod lying in the path of movement of the vdash. pot element in the movement of the armature under energization of the electromagnet, contacts for controlling othersof said circuits, and means carried by the armature toenously with the engagement of thev headed end of the rod and dash pot element.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

PERRY V. MGCASH.

gage and operate said contacts simultane- L 

